State pension more needed than ever

The damning report by the parliamentary ombudsman Ann Abraham into the failure of ministers and the regulator to prevent the Equitable Life scandal raises a much more fundamental issue (Darling faces Equitable Life payments of £4.5bn, July 17). For decades governments have relied on individuals taking out private personal pensions to supplement their meagre state pension in retirement. However, with the decline of many decent occupational pensions, stock market volatility and the lack of public confidence in the private pensions industry, it is time we looked again at the role the state could play.

A hundred years ago, the state took the first step in recognising its responsibility to provide for those in old age. Today, a strengthened state pension is needed more than ever - not only for existing pensioners, but for future generations as well.Neil Duncan-JordanNational officer, National Pensioners Convention

Jim Savege (Letters, July 17) says: "The public sector offers relatively favourable packages for staff in terms of working arrangements and pension schemes". I'd love to hear his definition of "relatively favourable" - compared to what? - or indeed what his pay and pension figures are. The average local government pension is just over £4,000 a year. Does he regard that as acceptable? The high salaries of a few top council officers make headlines, but the reality is that the poor bloody infantry who do the tough frontline jobs get poverty wages and poverty pensions.Dorothy Macedo(Retired local government employee), Wellington, New Zealand